Summary
This paper explains and assesses the impact, and how to minimize the impact of End-User Development (EUD) system to an organization. Both the advantages and the disadvantages of EUD are enumerated and explained. EUD is thoroughly explained; its uses, type of approach, and some example of EUD application are given. The advantages and disadvantages of EUD are enumerated and explained.
Impact of End-User Development
End-User Development (EUD) is a research topic in computer science concern in enabling the end user of certain software to extend and adapt to its needs. It is a set of activities and techniques that allows the end user (who is non-professional developers) in creating or modifying software. EUD includes creation and modification of web pages such as plain HTML or HTML and scripting, collaborative EUD process such as Wikipidea, and spreadsheets, etc.
End-User Development is the use and/or development of information systems (IS) by the principal users of the systems output or their staff (, 1998). EUD has become provides an organization with inexpensive desktop computers and easy to use software. Because of new tools, both end-users and IT personnel are becoming aware or their job description (i.e. IS-oriented end-users and business-oriented IS professionals) and capable of sharing knowledge regarding their respective computer system.
There are two types of approach in EUD, the monopolistic and the Laissez-faire approach (, 1994). Monopolistic approach deals with the MIS department of an organization in arranging the system, training and policies. In this approach the MIS controls all the computing resources of the organization, while the Laissez-faire approach allows the end-user to take full control and do whatever the end-user want in regards to computing. Such approach may jeopardize the organization and may keep more knowledgeable and conservative end-users from taking advantage of IT. As the knowledge of end-users in regards to technology continuously increases, the cost of resources decreases and the importance of IT increases; that makes it more difficult for MIS in maintaining and controlling EUD.
Advantages of EUD
- Decrease in request backlog
Request backlog is the amount of time required for an IS programmer in making the end-user application from the time it was requested.
- Inexpensive hardware and software
This is because of the new technology resources coming out of the market, available and accessible to anyone and any organization.
- Knowledge sharing between users and IT personnel
Because of new tools knowledge sharing between organizational department becomes fact and easy and reduces communications problems between departments; end users and IT personnel.
- End users can set their own priority
End-Users have a sense of control over their work environments. They are in charge of their time schedule and not waiting around for someone else. End users become more work independent.
- Encourages innovation and creative solutions
End users can come up with innovative solutions to problems in using EUD.
- More acceptable to users
This is because EUD is users based and more accessible to users.
Disadvantages of EUD
- EUD greatly increases cost. Organizations spend more money on:
- Data management
- End-user trainings
- Managing end user activities
- Ensuring that existing organizational resources are effectively used
- Management concerns
- Lack of proper user training/education
- Lack of data security and integrity
- Lack of systems backups
- Incompatible hardware and /or software
Because of lack of communication between end users, no one actually knows the doing of the other. Some applications must work with another, when a changed occurred to an application integration becomes impossible. Incompatibility reduces or sometimes prevents sharing.
- Insufficient system testing and validation
Some end users does not have enough technical knowledge or background, most do not have an understanding of proper data validation and testing.
- Poor user access policies
Organizations must formulate access policies regarding who was allowed to access files and which applications so that applications could not be changed without someone knowing what was going on and who should be seeing certain information. EUD can duplicate work and effort, therefore wasting resources.
- Data contamination on the organization’s mainframe
Wrong file entry can damage the whole file of the organization. Another problem is putting requested applications on local area networks that have the tendency to bring down other systems. This is because of the loss of control over data.
- La ck of inadequate documentation
The personnel responsible in the development of an application becomes the ‘help desk’ until every user understand the application or that personnel leaves the department.
In the short run, end-user development does have its advantages. However, some problems can still arise. Organizations end up spending more resources on protecting themselves from their own end-users instead of on application development.
Reference:
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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